Network configuration

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of configuring a network to provide network coverage for a mobile entity undertaking a mission is provided. The method comprises: receiving a mission definition file for the mobile entity, the mission definition file indicating a route along which the mobile entity will travel when undertaking the mission and a schedule for the mission; identifying a set of network nodes of the network for providing coverage to the mobile entity during the mission, each network node being associated with a respective portion of the route over which it is to provide network coverage to the mobile entity; determining a set of beam-forming configurations for one or more, or all, of the network nodes based on the mission definition file, each beam-forming configuration being associated with a respective network node and indicating a sequence of beam patterns for providing network coverage to the mobile entity as it travels along the respective portion of the route to be covered by that network node; and configuring the one or more, or all, of the network nodes according to the respective beam-forming configuration associated with that node to cause each network node to form a beam according to the sequence of beam patterns while the mobile entity travels along the respective portion of the route covered by that network node.

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